DOJ Rolls Back Journalist Protections in Leak Cases

Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded Biden-era Justice Department protections for journalists that were established by former AG Merrick Garland after prior administrations secretly obtained reporters' communications. The reversal, enacted through a DOJ memo, allows federal investigators to subpoena, search, and obtain court orders for journalists' records during leak investigations but states such actions should be a last resort and subject to procedural safeguards. Bondi argued the previous policy impeded efforts to prosecute those leaking sensitive information and was abused for political purposes. The policy change comes amid ongoing criminal referrals involving alleged leaks to major news outlets and signals renewed antagonism from the Trump administration toward the media. Critics, including press freedom advocates, warn the move could chill investigative reporting and undermine press freedom. The DOJ maintains that some procedural protections will remain in place.